Joslyn's Conditioning Log
Hi, thought I would share a bit a bit about the horses that I will be competing this year.
Bert - 11 year old Paso Fino gelding. He has been competing for 4 years. We did 3 years of limited distances rides, mostly at the back of the pack. Bert was a very consistent performer, completing the entire 2006 season without a pull (625 miles). In 2007, we moved up to Endurance(50 miles or more) and we had some lameness issues in the rear end. I have been working him very slowly this winter inside mostly, due the weather. Lots of work on the lunge, ground poles, etc... I have been trying to develop his trot and canter to maximize gait efficiency.
Dude - 26! year old 3/4 Arabian gelding. Dude's been a pasture potato for the last 5 years, enjoying retirement. He had suspensory issues in his left hind 5 years ago and I haven't ridden him much since then. Last fall, I rode him to mark trail for the DRAW IV ride in Palmyra. He went 13 miles and looked fantastic. That planted the seed in my mind to put him back to work. We worked quite a bit this winter on the lunge, ground poles also. He will be competing in the Senior Horse Division, Competitive.
Elvis - 4 year old Arabian gelding. El was started under saddle this winter. Have been doing very light riding on him. He looks very much like a gawky teenager yet and I don't believe in competing young horses. At this point, we are working on training issues with conditioning as a side benefit.
Week of March 28th
Bert - 4 miles out on the trail, alternating between walk and trot. Our footing outside is still horrible.
Working in the Indoor Arena- footing is semi-deep pea gravel and rubber.
Bert - 1 hour spent working on the lunge. Over ground poles, through deep sand. Alternating between trot and canter. I try to give a walk break every 15 minutes. Heart rate recovered to 56 within 5 minutes.
Dude - 35 minutes - 5 minute warmup at the walk. I like my horses to walk out, necks stretched, long and low. Then put him to work. 10 minutes of trotting, 2 minute walk break. Switch direction, 10 minutes of trotting, 2 minute walk break. Get the idea? :) Recovered to 44 within a couple of minutes.
Elvis - 30 minutes on the lunge line. Working on basic commands - walk, trot, canter. Don't run around like an idiot! :)
Week of April 7th
Weather is again horrid and more time spent in the indoor. I hate riding indoors!
Week of April 14th Weather is a bit better. I am alternating horses each day. Bert one day, then Dude, then Elvis.
Bert - outside! 6 miles on trail, alternating between walk and trot. Averaging 6.5 miles per hour. I use a GPS to track mileage, speed. Great investment.
Dude - 4 miles every other day. Mostly walk, a bit of trot.
Elvis - round pen work, also ponying him for about 4 miles every other day. So far, he thinks this is great fun. Ha, ha. :)
Week of April 14th
Basically the same program as last week.
I did do hill work with Bert one day. We have a very steep ski hill that I can condition on. I ran him up the hill 4 times, jumped off and walked down. Waited at the bottom for him to recover to 60 and back up we went. After 4 climbs, he was a bit tuckered. We will work up to 10 hills in a day over the course of the season.
Week of April 21st
Not much work done, Midwest Horse Fair is approaching. I am also going to Missouri for a hoof trimming course. So everyone is on vacation. :)
Week of April 28th
Taste of Endurance Ride on Saturday - so Bert did 10 miles at a very moderate pace of 5 mph, in very slick and muddy conditions.
Week of May 5th
Bert - 8 miles every other day. Average speed of 7.5 mph. Bert completed his 1st ride of the season. 25 mile LD in 4:20. Not bad for this time of the year with not much conditioning!
Dude - 4-5 miles every other day. Average speed of 6 mph.
Elvis - ponying 4 miles every day. Wow - this is starting to resemble work! :) Light riding for 1/2 hour after that.
Week of May 12th
Bert - Bert is off for about 5 days. I like to give 1 day off for every miles of a ride (25 miler - 5 days off, then back to work).
Bert and Dude went to Palmyra for a training ride. Saddled up Dude rode out 6.5 miles, ponying Bert. Then switched horses and rode back to camp. Average speed of 7 miles per hour.
Elvis is continuing his pony rides and lessons. Ho hum. :)
Week of May 17th
Bert - 8 miles every other day, bumping up the speed to about 8.5 miles per hour.
Dude - 5 miles every other day still at about 6 mph.
Elvis - goes out with either of the above at speed. He is their incentive to boogy. The older guys can't let the youngster beat them. :)
** As always, my goal is to have the horses recover to a 60 heart rate within 5 minutes of returning home.**
Also, I usually jump off and walk back the last 1/4 mile, loosening the girth, removing the bit. I like to think that this will help condition the boys to know it is time to relax. Who knows if it works, but it makes me feel useful. Also helps to loosen up my legs to get ready for the trot out.
I also practice a trot out each time I return from a training ride. Just a quick trip out and back, with a stern - TROT! will do wonders to get your trot-outs looking great.
Questions? - Email me @ endurancerider@centurytel.net